Ring-twirling toy



( No Model.) 7

O. M. BARTHOLOMEW. RING IWIRLING TOY.

No. 595,594. Patented Dec. 14, 1897.

my! i292 PATENT Fries.

OASSIUS M. BARTHOLOMEW, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

RING-TWIRLING TOY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,594, dated. December 14, 1897.

Application filed February 27,1897. Serial No. 625,264. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OAssIUs M. BARTHOL- OMEW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ring Twirling and Returning Toys; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a toy of simple and inexpensive construction that shall afford amusement and instruction as well as exercise for the eye and hand of the user.

My invention is embodied in a device consisting of a shaft having at one end a sup; port adapted to hold and catch a ring and at the other a spring and devices by the proper manipulation of which the ring may be both projected into and twirled in the air, as hereinafter fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the toy with its accompanying ring. Fig. 2 is a similar View of a part of the shaft, showing added devices for automat' ically twisting the shaft when it is drawn down to distend the spring to its projecting position; and Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

' Like characters of reference in the different views designate corresponding parts.

1 designates the shaft or stem of the toy. Atthe upper end of this are secured 'a number of triangularshaped wings 2, having edges inclined to and meeting in a point at the upper extremity of the shaft. Upon the lower end of the shaft is a coiled spring 3, that has its lower end fastened in the shaft and its upper end fastened in a sleeve or collar 4, that is capable of being turned laterally and slid longitudinally upon the shaft.

5 designates a ring consisting, preferably, of a fiat strip of paper orother light and moderately-stiff material having its ends joined to form a cylinder. The ring is preferably made of such diameter as to rest upon the lower portions of the outer edges of the wings 2.

The toy, as shown in Fig. 1, is used as follows: The ring is placed upon the supporting-wings in substantially the position shown in this figure. The sleeve or collar 4 is held in the fingers of one hand and the shaft or rod pulled down and turned at the same time, so as to wind up the spring with the other hand. If the end of the shaft be now suddenly released, the ring will be projected into the air with a rotary motion. If the toy be held at an angle to the vertical when the ring is projected and rotated, the ring will return toward the operator after its outward flight has ceased, as the rotary motion of the ring will continue. The returning ring may thus be caught by the operator upon the winged end of the shaft or stick without moving from his original position on the floor or ground.

In addition to the parts shown in Fig. 1 I may employ a string or cord 6, as shown in Fig. 2. This cord is fastened to the shaft at its upper part and passed with a turn or two, as may be required, around the shaft and preferably through a small loop or staple 7, and finally through a small eye or loop 8 at the lower end of the-shaft. The cord is secured in such manner that when the sleeve or collar 4 is held fixedly in one hand and the shaft or rod pulled down therethrough by the end of the string in the other the string in its engagement with the collar and loop will twist or rotate the shaft or rod and place it under the necessary tension of the spring for rotating the ring when it is projected.

I have herein chosen the best means known to me of embodying my invention in tangible form, but do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as it is susceptible of some modification without departing from the scope of my invention. The collar, for instance, may be omitted and the upper part of the spring taken in the fingers.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A toy consisting of a shaft having wings adapted to support loosely an open cylindric ring on its edge, and a spring attached to said shaft whereby the latter may be placed under lateral and longitudinal tension so that when released it shall project and twirl said ring, substantially as set forth.

2. A toy consisting of a shaft 1 having wings 2 adapted to support loosely an open cylindric ring on its edge, aloose collar 4 on said shaft, a spring attached to said collar and shaft whereby the latter may be placed under lateral and longitudinal tension so that when released the ring shall be projected and twirled, substantially as set forth.

3. A toy consisting of ashaft 1 having wings 2 tapered toward the end of said shaft adapted to support loosely an open cylindric ring on its edge, and a spring attached to said shaft whereby the latter may be placed under lateral and longitudinal tension, so that when released it shall project and twirl said ring, substantially as set forth.

4. A toy comprising a rod or shaft having wings meeting at a point at their upper ends adapted to support a loose ring, a collar on said shaft or rod, a spring attached to the collar and to the shaft, and a ring adapted to be supported upon, projected from and caught upon said wings.

5. In a body-projecting toy, a shaft, a movable sleeve or collar on said shaft, a spring attached to said shaft and to said collar or sleeve, and a cord 6 attached to said shaft above the sleeve or collar and engaging said collar and the shaft at a point near the shaft below the collar for the purpose explained. 25

In testimony whereof I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CASSIUS M. BARTHOLOMEW'.

Vitnesses:

GEORGE W. ALFRED, GEO. M. FINoKEL. 

